Cafe Piano is a high priced touristy cafe in the heart of Cologne city centre. It is located on Minoritenstrasse, just off the busy shopping street of Hohe Strasse. It is about 5-10 minutes walk from the famous Cathedral.

The cafe has a large interior with comfy looking sofas and an outdoor seating area with tables shaded by umbrellas. I sat outside one lunchtime during my visit to Cologne in July 2006, beneath an umbrella while a steady drizzle fell.

Most items on the menu were relatively highly priced and clearly aimed at high spending tourists.

The food on the menu included:

Sandwiches: both toasted and ordinary. A ham and cheese sandwich will set you back 5.90 Euros (I told you it was expensive!!)

Desserts: including apple strudel, various tortes with cream, waffles and ice cream. Again, prices were high, but I did hear the guy on the next table to mine getting very excited about the size of his waffle.

The cafe offers a selection of beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks and hot beverages (including a selection of alcoholic coffees).

The service was friendly and efficient. I made my order from a German language menu, but the waitress did ask if I wanted an English language menu.

Favorite Dish: I opted for:

Spaghetti mit tomatensauce - Cost: 7.90 Euros

A plate of long spaghetti topped with a thick tomato and herb sauce. The food was nice, but I can't help but think that 7.90 Euros is very expensive for a plate of spaghetti with a sauce that clearly came from a packet or a tin. There was nothing to accompany the spaghetti.

Konig Pilsener (300ml) - Cost: 2.90 Euros

I actually wanted to try the much heralded local Kolsch beer. However, despite the menu including "kolner brauart" under its selection of beers, it was not available at the time of my visit. In the event, this pilsener was the best beer that I had during my stay in Cologne.

Good food in a good location.....but at tourist prices!!

Address:2 MinoritenstrassePrice Comparison:more expensive than averageDirections:Located on Minoritenstrasse, a side street leading off from busy Hohe Strasse.Price:US$11-20Rating:3Theme:Eclectic/International